How'd You Get Your ER Job?
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I'm hoping to find an Emergency Room job when I graduate next year and was wondering how everyone found their job. My plan is to look for openings that do not require experience, just prefer it,... Read More

Oct 15, '11

I took ACLS straight out of school, worked med/surg and ICU for a year, busted my butt with OT and extra training and prayed for an opening. I am glad for the year on one the floor and cross training, I'm the only ER employee that can consistently pick up OT because of it.

I took ACLS straight out of school, worked med/surg and ICU for a year, busted my butt with OT and extra training and prayed for an opening. I am glad for the year on one the floor and cross training, I'm the only ER employee that can consistently pick up OT because of it.

As a new nurse, I applied to the large hospitals first, got one interview but no offer. On my second round, I included small, rural hospitals as well. Got an interview at a 20 bed ER, gave it my best and got an offer a few days later. The small hospital is part of the same system that has the level 1 trauma center I'd like to end up in. Working here will get me ER experience in a relatively calmer setting, with a smaller, more close knit team, and get me in the system to be an internal applicant if I decide to move to the larger hospital later.

Don't discount the <100 bed rural hospitals.

Oct 15, '11

I got my first ER job by being Facebook friends with my old (third year) Clinical Instructor who happened to be the Nurse Educator at that time at an inner city ER. I called him up and asked if they were hiring, told me to send him my resume and HR called me the next day to schedule an interview. It pays to network!

Oct 16, '11

I am in my last year of nursing school and asked my program director about signing up for clinical work experience credits on top of my class and clinical schedule. There are about five of us doing it and working full time with nurses in various departments. I worked hard and got into the ED and by the time my last term comes up I should be able to completely handle my own down there and prove i've got what it takes. I have heard other new grads have gotten hired this way and have used this as basically my chance to shine and show em' what I got. It's exhausting on top of everything else but so worth it since I HAVE TO GET HIRED IN THE ED! You should see if your program will allow you to do something like this. Hate to say it but most the time you've got to know someone or have a chance to show them what you can handle to get hired on out of school.

I know that it has been commented on several times, but I cannot advise you strongly enough against going into any ED and handing the director your resume. I would almost say that's enough not to get a call back ... it may show you dont understand the culture of the ED. If you've got the desire find a way.. I wish you lots of luck!!!

Oct 16, '11

I'm taking an Emergency Nursing course (which is kicking my ass BTW), and plan to do a practicum next semester in the ED. This in addition to working a clerical position in the ED for almost 3 years. I hope it works.

Oct 17, '11

ER tech for 10 years, paramedic 15....sweet talked the director

Oct 19, '11

i commuted 2.5hrs one way and slept in my car (literally) for my first ER job. you have to want it!

Oct 22, '11

I was working M/S, and they needed someone to float to the ER...I went, and loved it. Then there was an opening, I applied, and got the job.

I'm hoping to find an Emergency Room job when I graduate next year and was wondering how everyone found their job. My plan is to look for openings that do not require experience, just prefer it, then show up on the unit in professional clothing with my resume and hand it to the ER Director in person. I figure a face-to-face introduction shows much more initiative than submitting an online application. How did everyone else land their emergency job?

I was an internal applicant/transfer from another facility in the system.

Know the culture/system where you hope to be considered before you just show up.

Where I recently came from not only are those nice ladies at the desk NOT going to buzz you back to the patient care area so you could track down the director they are not going to page the director to come out front to for a meet & greet. They also have a strict policy of not hiring people who try to bypass the application process. If you did manage to track down the director and give him your resume he'd be required (by policy) to forward it to HR so that your application could be rejected.

That same (6 hospital) system only sponsors around 25 new grad positions a year, all in general med-surg.

Oct 29, '11

After more than three (long) years doing med-surg (mostly ortho and neuro), I have an interview this Monday morning..wish me luck.. I'm so excited it's all I can think about

I went searching for a job as an ER tech last summer and it was a no-go. I'm currently working as well and will be until I graduate, it's a good job that pays well with minimal hours and works with my school schedule, unfortunately it's not healthcare related.

Just my 0.02 worth here, but I think you are making a huge mistake by working in a non healthcare setting. It sounds like you have decided to stay where you are until you find a nursing job. With the current environment you must be as competitive as possible and there will be many others who want the same job, but have healthcare or ED experience.

I work in a very busy, almost 1000 bed hospital. We see about 400 patients per day thru the ED, and all of the new grads that have been hired over the last few years have been ED techs in our department while in school. Even some of our own techs who became RN's were not hired.

Just keep that in mind and even if you have to sacrifice the flexibility and familiarity of your current job, you could be sabotaging your chances later. Good luck to you.

Nov 9, '11

My recommendation is NOT TO WALK IN and hand your resume to the director. As per our hospital, all new hires go through me before being interviewed as well as the fact that I don't know many emergency rooms that will hire new grads. The pace is too quick and a new grad is (sorry) only going to be in the way. However, I would recommend trying to get on as a tech in the ER while still in school. Any experience is better than no experience at all when looking at emergency rooms. Hope this helps.